For more than five decades, Chuck Mangione's love affair
with music has been characterized by his boundless energy,
unabashed enthusiasm, and pure joy that radiates from
the stage.
Mangione first attracted attention with his brother, Gap,
in a mainstream jazz band, The Jazz Brothers, in which he
played trumpet much like that of the man who he refers to
as his musical father-Dizzy Gillespie. In fact Dizzy gave
Chuck an 'updo' horn just like his own.
Chuck's years with the Jazz Brothers overlapped with his
attending the Eastman School of Music and eventually
resulted in his solo album debut. Chuck left home to
play with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, assuming
the trumpet chair that had belonged to such great players
as Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Bill Hardman, Lee Morgan
and Freddie Hubbard.
Another important step in Mangione's career development was
his return to the Eastman School of Music as director of
the school's Jazz Ensemble. His "Friends & Love" concert
with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra was recorded
live and featured "Hill Where the Lord Hides." This led
to a recording contract with a major label, Mercury
records, and his first Grammy nomination.
Those early years with Mercury culminated in the title tune
of one of Mangione's most popular albums. Land of Make Believe,
another Grammy nominee, Mangione then signed with A&M Records
and delivered two extremely successful releases in one year,
Chase The Clouds Away, which was used as background music
during the telecast of the 1976 Olympic Games; and Bellavia
("beautiful way"), named to honor his mother, which won
Mangione his first Grammy award.
During the late 1970's, Chuck received more awards and
accolades for his recordings. He reached new heights
with his mega-hit single and album, Feels So Good.
The 1980 Mangione entry in Current Biography called
"Feels So Good" the most recognized melody since the
Beatles' "Michelle." The Children of Sanchez
double-album soundtrack won the Hollywood Foreign
Press Association's Golden Globe Award, then earned
Mangione a second Grammy award.
In 1980 maximum impact was achieved in front of an
"intimate" television of several hundred million when
Chuck's "Give It All You Got" was heard around the
world as the theme of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid
which he performed live at the closing ceremonies.
Mangione was also busy with personal projects during
the 1980's. He hosted an 8-hour concert featuring
jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea, which
benefited the Italian earthquake Relief Fund.
The '80's were exceptionally full years for Chuck. Having
signed with Columbia Records he released several albums,
including Love Notes, Journey To A Rainbow, Disguise,
and Save Tonight For Me. Another highlight was working out
with the New York Yankees at their spring training camp at
the invitation of his friend and fan, George Steinbrenner.
Chuck was often seen playing the National Anthem at Yankee
Stadium and All Star games in San Francisco and Chicago.
There was also "Salute to Chuck Mangione" a one-hour TV
special hosted by Dick Clark; numerous performing and
conducting dates with symphony orchestras across the
country, plus television interviews on The Tonight Show,
Larry King, Soul Train, Solid Gold, and many others.
In 1989, Chuck released two live albums, "The Boys From Rochester,"
featuring Steve Gadd, Gap Mangione, Joe Romano and frank Pullara,
plus a double album, Chuck Mangione Live at the Village Gate.
Following these releases, and more than 25 years of one-nighters
around the world, Chuck Mangione stopped playing.
Many people point to the death of Dizzy Gillespie as the event
that propelled Mangione back into music. In 1994 chuck scheduled
a whirlwind of activity that included recording sessions for two
new albums, a series of nightclub performances by himself and
other jazz favorites which featured his "Cat in the Hat" matinees
for kids (they continue to draw SRO audiences and raves from
critics, parents and kids alike). Four major orchestra dates
in upstate New York helped create an endowment fund in honor
of his father, Papa Mangione, and musical father Dizzy Gillespie,
for the Rochester School of the Arts.
Chuck is currently caricatured on the Fox TV hit show,
King Of The Hill.He is the celebrity spokesman for "Mega-lo-mart"
and scored the music for the 1998 Valentine's Day episode.
When Chuck performed in Poland for the 1999 Film and Jazz Festival,
his composition "Children of Sanchez" brought the audience to its
feet. Unbeknownst to the composer, the piece had become somewhat
of an anthem during the struggle for democracy and many in the
audience were in tears, holding their hands over their hearts.
In the year 2000 Chuck made his first ever appearance in Korea to
SRO audiences where Feels So Good has been the top requested
instrumental hit for the past twenty years. He returned to Seoul
in 2001 and was performing there when 9/11 happened.
Chuck has recorded two albums for Chesky Records.
The Feelings Back & Everything For Love.
His 60th Birthday Bash Concert at the Eastman Theater in
Rochester New York raised over $50,000 for
St. John's Nursing Home.
Recently Smooth Jazz stations throughout the U.S. recognized
Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good" as their all time #1 song.
Chuck received the Eastman School of Music Alumni Achievement Award in 2007
In 2009, Chuck was highlighted at the Smithsonian in an artifacts Donation Ceremony
and Onstage Discussion that pays homage to his illustrious career, artistry,
community service, and dedication to jazz education.
Chuck Mangione Inducted to Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
April 29, 2012
Jazz legend and Grammy Award winning composer/musician
Chuck Mangione was among the initial class of inductees
into the brand new Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
Chuck's induction took place at a star-studded event on
April 29th at the Eastman Theater, in Rochester, NY.
The appreciative crowd was on their feet for Chuck's
performance, with brother Gap, of a medley of his
poplular hits.
Rochester Music